Loose-leaf binder.



s. H.- MITCHELL.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION ,I'ILED MAY 14-. 1909.

932,801 Patented Aug. 31, 1909;

Snuantoz UNITED STEPHEN HENRY MITGHEIiL, F SAIJJ. IJAKE CITY, UTAH.

, Loose-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

Application fiI ed'May 14, 1909. Serial No. 496,976.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known th'at I, STEPHEN HENRY. MITCHELL, a cit zen of the UnitedStates of America, res ding at Salt-Lake City, in

the countyof Salt Lake and State'of Utah,

have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Loose-Leaf Binders,of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

The object ofthis invention is to provide simplemeans for locking andunlocking the movable. or clamping member of the device, and it consistsin certain novel featureshereinafterfully described and particularlypointed out in the claim. i y

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section; and,Fig. 2 is a 1on gitudinal section, taken between the'frame bars of themovable member.

In carrying out the present invention, I employ a base-plate or bar 1from which I posts 2 rise, the said posts being intended to retainthe'loose leaves by passing through openings formed in the same, as willbe readily understood. Above the loose leayes,

a slidable frame or casing is mounted on .the

posts, the frame being shown in the drawings as consisting of two plates3 held rigidly a slight distance apart by connecting bolts or rivets l.These plates are, of course, provided with openings 5,: through whichthe posts pass, and between the plates'a rockshaft 6 is journaled insuitableybearing's, the said rock-shaft being provided near its endswithradial arms 7 which extend inwardly under a pair. of springs 8fastened on the upper face of the lower one of the two. bars 3 and oneat each end of the frame. The free end of each of these springs isrounded out to embrace the adjacent post 2 and the tendency of thespring is to spring downwardly and thus normally bite into the post Ontop of each spring is fastened a sup-plemental spring 9 whose free endbears down upon the free end of the main spring S-and assists in forcingit against the post 2, i The rock-shaft 6 extends approximately the fulllength of the bars 3 and each of its ends is squared off to adapt it toreceive a keyor other tool. v

The loose leaves, it will be understood, are

previously prepared with perforations so lift the springs 8 suliicientlyto re posts and thus permit the frame to he slid and pressed downwardlyupon the leaves.

As. the slidableframe is pushed down over the posts the frictionalengagement of the posts and the notched springs 8 will 'cause the freeends of saidsprings to bend slightly upwardly sufficiently to permit theframe to shde downwardly on the posts. Should it be attempted to raisethe franie,'howeve r, the frictional engagement between the said springsand posts would cause the springs to bind or bite against the posts andthereby prevent upward movement of the frame. -The surreptitious oraccidental removal of leaves is thus prevented, but when the leaves areto be removed, the custodian of theapparatus will apply a suitable keyto either end of the rock-shaft and rock the same sufficiently to causethe radial armsor pins 7 to ease the upwardly far enough to unclamp theleaves. The. device is verylsimple in its construe tion, being composedof few parts which are compactly arranged. The slidable clamping framemay be easily pushed downward to more firmly secure the leaves .but canbe lifted to loosen or permit removal of the leaves only after thereleasing key has been brought into play, as will be readilyund erstoodfrom the foregoing description.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v In aloose-leaf binder, the combination of a-plate carrying lip-standingposts, a clamping frame slidably mountedon said posts, springs fastenedto said frame and'normally grippln said posts to prevent upward movement.0 said. frame on said posts, a rockshaft extending approximately thefull lengthof said frame and-adapted to receive an operating toolandprovided with lateral pins extending under said springs, for the purposeset forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses, a

STEPHEN HENRY MITCHELL. Witnesses:

Enwny J. S;1mnps, GERTRUDE SNEVELY.

